"A Qing, do you know what it takes to become a good medical practitioner?"
Hearing his master's question, Lu Qing hesitated for a moment before answering, "Excellent medical skills?"
"That is only one part of it," Old Doctor Chen said. "Besides that, an outstanding medical practitioner must also possess an unflappable state of mind and a healthy physique."
"An unflappable state of mind, and a healthy physique?" Lu Qing murmured.
"Precisely." The Old Doctor nodded. "As a medical practitioner, an unflappable state of mind is extremely important."
"Because as a medical practitioner, you will inevitably encounter all manner of patients in the future."
"Some will be writhing in unbearable pain, their mouths full of wails. Some will be at death's door, on the verge of dying. Some will have horrifying illnesses that send shivers down one's spine. There will even be those with violent tempers, ready to curse, strike, and cause trouble at the slightest provocation."
"When faced with such patients, if you do not have an unflappable, calm, and composed state of mind, it will be difficult for you to accurately diagnose their condition and treat them to save their lives."
"So remember this: once your medical skills have matured, no matter what kind of patient you encounter, you must remain unruffled in the face of change. Only then can you better help treat your patients."
"This disciple will remember." Lu Qing replied respectfully.
"As for a healthy physique..."
The Old Doctor pondered for a moment before continuing.
"As I said earlier, medical practitioners will always encounter some troublesome patients."
"Some patients are not only ill-tempered themselves, but their family members can be equally unreasonable. Sometimes, at the slightest dissatisfaction, they fly into a furious rage and may even vent their anger on the medical practitioner."
"At times like that, as a medical practitioner, you should no longer be thinking of treating illness and saving lives. Your first priority should be preserving yourself."
"In that case, a healthy physique becomes very necessary. Otherwise, I fear you will not be able to deal with those unreasonable patients and their families."
As the Old Doctor spoke, an indescribable expression appeared on his face, as though he had recalled some unpleasant memories.
It seemed his master had encountered quite a few people who caused trouble at medical clinics before, Lu Qing thought.
The Old Doctor shook his head, casting aside those unpleasant memories, and continued.
"Besides dealing with troublesome patients, medical practitioners must often enter the mountains to gather herbs or travel the four seas. All of this requires a strong body."
"Therefore, if you wish to become an outstanding medical practitioner, medical skill is certainly important."
"But likewise, an unflappable state of mind and a robust physique are just as important."
"Then, Master, how can one train a robust physique?" Lu Qing asked humbly.
"Now that is getting to the heart of the matter." Old Doctor Chen smiled.
"Do you remember the set of boxing techniques I performed when you first came here?"
"I remember."
Lu Qing thought, More than remember. I nearly simulated it myself.
This was the first time his master had taken the initiative to mention cultivation. His heart could not help but pound with excitement.
"This set of boxing techniques was something I obtained by chance in my youth. It is also thanks to it that, at my age, I still possess a fairly decent body."
"Now that you have entered my school, it is time to teach this set of boxing techniques to you as well."
"Master, you are going to teach me martial arts?" Lu Qing's face filled with delight. "So Master understands martial arts too?"
"I only know a little. Your body is somewhat frail. Whether you wish to enter the mountains to gather herbs or travel the four seas in the future, you need to exercise more. As medical practitioners, we must not only know how to heal others and save lives, but also understand how to regulate ourselves and strengthen our bodies."
"If you yourself are sickly and weak, how can you possibly be in good condition to diagnose and treat others?"
Old Doctor Chen knew that someone as clever as Lu Qing would never give up searching for the truth behind his parents' deaths.
Nor did he have any reason to stop his disciple.
After all, as a son, wanting to know the truth behind the deaths of one's birth parents was only natural and right.
Since that was the case, all he could do was give his disciple a few more means of protecting himself.
When they returned to the courtyard, master and disciple stood in its center. Xiao Yan sat at a stone table to one side, happily eating pastries as she watched them.
"A Qing, before I formally teach you boxing techniques, I must first explain some basic knowledge about Martial Dao cultivation." Old Doctor Chen's expression grew solemn.
"Yes, Master."
Lu Qing forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart.
At last, I can learn something about cultivation! "Martial Dao cultivation, according to Martial Dao Practitioners, is divided into several major realms." Old Doctor Chen began to explain in detail.
"The greater realms are divided into the Innate Realm and the Postnatal Realm."
"As for the lesser realms, the Postnatal Realm alone is divided into three: the Qi Blood Realm, the Tendons and Bones Realm, and the Inner Organs Realm."
"In the Qi Blood Realm, those who have only just begun practicing martial arts mainly work on invigorating their qi and blood and regulating their breath."
"Once the qi and blood are lively and the breath flows smoothly, the body naturally becomes stronger, strength increases, and one's spirit flourishes."
"Thus, Martial Artists who have reached Qi Blood Realm Great Accomplishment are all strong and powerfully built, with astonishing strength. Even if three or five burly men were to seize them, they could easily fling them away."
"In the Tendons and Bones Realm, Martial Artists have already begun deliberately tempering their own tendons and bones."
"Using all kinds of secret methods and cultivation techniques to temper their tendons and bones, they stretch the sinews, pull the bones, and undergo a complete rebirth."
"Martial Artists who have reached Tendons and Bones Realm Great Accomplishment possess strength far beyond those of the Qi Blood Realm. They can rein in galloping horses and hurl oxen with their bare hands—truly terrifying."
"As for the Inner Organs Realm..."
The Old Doctor paused before continuing, "Martial Artists at this realm have already strengthened their qi, blood, tendons, and bones to their peak, making further breakthroughs difficult. Thus, they begin seeking an even deeper transformation of the body, from the outside inward."
"And this transformation lies within the internal organs."
"A person's five viscera and six bowels have always been fragile. The slightest injury may endanger one's life."
"Yet Martial Artists of the Inner Organs Realm can cultivate their five viscera and six bowels until they become exceptionally powerful. Their inner and outer selves become one, their breath deep and enduring, their stamina immensely strong."
"Martial Artists who have reached Inner Organs Realm Great Accomplishment possess powerful Inner Breath. They can rush across a thousand li without exhausting their strength, or remain underwater for several hours without their breath ceasing."
"By the time one has trained martial arts to this realm, one has far surpassed ordinary imagination and reached the Postnatal Limit of mankind."
"Those who can attain such a realm are truly one in ten thousand, worthy of being called Dragons Among Men. Thus, Martial Dao Practitioners also bestow the title of Grandmaster upon Martial Artists who have achieved Inner Organs Great Accomplishment."
This explanation left Lu Qing both exhilarated and deeply shaken.
The cultivators of this world were even more powerful than he had imagined.
Reining in galloping horses, hurling oxen barehanded, rushing a thousand li over long distances...
Every one of these feats could be called inhuman.
No wonder he had felt such overwhelming pressure from Master Ma before.
So Master Ma possessed such formidable strength.
"Master, the Postnatal Realm is already this powerful. Then what about the Innate Realm?" Lu Qing asked impatiently.
"I do not know the might of the Innate Realm either." The Old Doctor shook his head. "Experts of that realm are like divine dragons whose heads are seen but whose tails are not. Some roam the world in carefree freedom, while others are supreme figures who guard an entire nation. Even ordinary Martial Artists find it difficult to come into contact with them."
Lu Qing's eyes shifted as he asked again, "Then Master, what realm are you at now?"
"Hahaha!" The Old Doctor burst into laughter. "Your master is already old. When a man grows old and his body declines, what use is any realm? Besides, I am merely a physician. I concern myself only with healing illness and saving lives, not with matters of competing for supremacy. Whether my realm is high or low is of no consequence."
All right, Lu Qing understood. The old man simply did not wish to reveal his cultivation.
"However, although your master cannot fight, I can still teach you a few methods to strengthen your body."
"You must study this set of boxing techniques I am about to teach you properly."
Before you continue